Federal Way, Washington May 16, 2022 (Issuewire.com) - Michael Van Eaton has spent a large portion of his life helping children. He has spent time working as a teacher, teaching both chemistry and physics. And he has spent time as a coach, coaching both swimming and water polo. Working with children can be very rewarding, but it can also be challenging at times. The current school year is winding down, which means a whole new batch of teachers will be preparing for their first school year this summer. Here are a few tips from Mr. Van Eaton that can help you be successful.

Michael Van Eaton Explains Why Finding Mentors Within the School Is Important

Michael Van Eaton says that one of the most important things that you can do if you are going to be teaching for the very first year is to seek out mentors. While having other teachers helping to mentor you can be important, having mentors at the school you plan to teach at is even more important. Those mentors can help you to understand the demographic of students coming to the school, what the school expectations are, what routines or lesson plans are already in place within the department, and can provide you with an emotional support system for any hard days that may be up ahead.

Michael Van Eaton Details Why Having a Lesson Plan Is a Must

Michael Van Eaton explains that another very important tool to help you be successful is to create a lesson plan. This lesson plan should include daily lessons, weekly lessons, monthly lessons, and a year-long guide. You want to ensure you are covering all of the criteria and curriculum your students need, so a year-long plan is important. However, breaking that year-long plan down into daily, weekly, and monthly guides makes the task more manageable. As you create a plan, leave some wiggle room for flexibility for sick days or in case your students start to fall behind.

Michael Van Eaton States That You Must Be Sure to Write Down Your Successes

Michael Van Eaton goes on to mention that the final tip that can help you be successful in your first year as a teacher is to write down your success. Create a journal and write down anything good that has happened. When you are having a hard time in the classroom, you can reference your journal. You can rediscover what plans or techniques worked for you, so you can try them again, and you can look back on the successes you had, which can make it easier to stomach non-successes. Your first year can be a lot of trial and error, so being able to reference what went right can be uplifting.

Michael Van Eaton loves it when his students and his athletes are successful. He believes it is a reflection of what he is teaching them and not only showcases their success but his success as well. Teaching can be challenging, but with knowledgeable mentors, a detailed lesson plan, and the patience to see what works and what does not, you can carve out your own path to success if you are starting a career as a teacher.